Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

5. Support for Transitioning to Clean Energy

5.1. Most Indonesians think the country should use more renewable energy and more fossil fuels.

A majority of Indonesians (65%) say that in the future, Indonesia should use either “much more” (20%) or “more” (45%) renewable sources of energy, like solar panels and wind turbines, than it does today. Fewer (12%) say Indonesia should use either “much less” (7%) or “somewhat less” (5%) renewable energy, and 20% say Indonesia should use the same amount of renewable energy as it does today.

Additionally, more than half of Indonesians (53%) say Indonesia should use “much more” (15%) or “more” (38%) fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and gas, than it does today. Fewer (24%) say Indonesia should use either “much less” (14%) or “somewhat less” (10%) fossil fuels, and 21% say Indonesia should use the same amount of fossil fuels as it does today.

5.2. A large majority of Indonesians favor the government’s commitment to reduce Indonesia’s carbon pollution to nearly zero by 2060.

The Indonesian government has committed to reduce Indonesia’s carbon pollution to nearly zero by 2060Seasia.co. (2025, May 5). Indonesia’s Commitment to Net-Zero Emission 2060. Seasia.co. https://seasia.co/2025/05/05/indonesias-commitment-to-net-zero-emission-2060. This would transition the entire Indonesian economy (including electric utilities, transportation, buildings, and industry) from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy.

A large majority of Indonesians (83%) either “strongly favor” (38%) or “somewhat favor” (45%) this commitment. By contrast, only 12% of Indonesians either “strongly oppose” (2%) or “somewhat oppose” (10%) it.

5.3. Indonesians’ most important reason to reduce the country’s carbon pollution to nearly zero by 2060 is to provide a better life for our children and grandchildren.

 As described in Section 5.2, 83% of Indonesians favor the Indonesian government’s commitment to reduce Indonesia’s carbon pollution to nearly zero by 2060. Survey respondents who said they favor the commitment were then asked the importance of eight potential reasons for favoring it (refer to data tables, pp. 55-58). Finally, those same respondents were asked to choose the one reason, from among the eight presented, that was most important to them personally.

Overall, providing a better life for our children and grandchildren (23%) is Indonesians’ top reason for favoring the country’s commitment to reduce carbon pollution to nearly zero. This is followed by creating new jobs and a stronger economy (20%), improving people’s health (13%), reducing the financial costs to you and your household of extreme events caused by climate change, like drought, flooding, and air pollution (8%), to help us be a good caliph on Earth/good person of faith by protecting God’s creation (7%),Respondents who identified as Muslim were provided the option “To help us be a caliph on Earth by protecting God’s creation.” Respondents who did not identify as Muslim were given the option “To help us be a good person of faith by protecting God’s creation.” Refer to data tables (pp. 56-57) for more details. to help free us from dependence on foreign oil (5%), to adhere to the Indonesian values of Pancasila and UUD 1945 (5%), and to help reduce climate change (3%).

5.4. A majority of Indonesians say Indonesia should leave most of its coal in the ground.

Asked about the best pathway to a healthy, safe, and prosperous future for Indonesia, a majority of Indonesians (56%) say it would be best to leave most of Indonesia’s coal in the ground. By comparison, 39% of Indonesians say it would be best to rely on Indonesia’s abundant coal for decades to come, and 5% say they don’t know.

5.5. A large majority of Indonesians favor banning the construction of new coal power plants and closing existing ones.

Respondents were presented with the following statement: “As you may know, about two-thirds of electricity in Indonesia comes from burning coal. But burning coal also causes air pollution and contributes to climate change.” Then, they were asked how much they favor or oppose the Indonesian government banning the construction of new coal power plants, closing existing ones, and replacing them with solar and wind energy. 

A large majority of Indonesians (79%) say they “strongly favor” (38%) or “somewhat favor” (40%)  banning the construction of new coal power plants, closing existing ones, and replacing them with solar and wind energy. By comparison, 17% say they either “strongly oppose” (4%) or “somewhat oppose” (13%) doing so, while 2% say they don’t know.

5.6. A large majority of Indonesian Muslims favor using Islamic charity to support the national transition to renewable energy.

Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, with around 83% of its population identifying as Muslim. In Islam, charitable giving plays an important role in social and community welfare through practices such as zakat (obligatory almsgiving), infaq and sedekah (voluntary donations), and wakaf (endowments of property or assets for public benefit).

Survey participants who identify as Muslim were asked “How much do you favor or oppose using Islamic charity such as zakat, infaq, sedekah, and wakaf to support the national transition to renewable energy?” A large majority of Muslim respondents (79%) either “strongly favor” (48%) or “somewhat favor” (31%) doing so. By contrast, 19% either “strongly oppose” (7%) or “somewhat oppose” (12%) it, and 2% don’t know.